Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-11-24
threw both arms around Gideon's

know your he repeated; ''as if l
could ever forget you. Gideon!'
4 He drew him into the house and
pushed forward wooden chair.
''Sit down. comrad,." he said, "and
tell ME how You came to find me out. ="
Gideon told his story as briefly as
possible. dwelling very lightly on his
misfortunes and troubles. and ended
by saying that he had come back to
Pennsylvania to end his days there.
ITO end them with me. you mean.
said Joe. with some emotion. Il
haven't much. Gideon. but you're well
come to share it. There's room enough
here for both of US. and you won't go
on to MELVILLE with my consent
Life in the country will suit you
better than life in the town. and all
the old friends are dead, or have
moved away"
"TIl stay with you. them" said
Gideon. land it's like you to m axe
the offer. comrade. Tn good for
many days work yet and l won't
be no burden on you But how hap
pens you er livin' alone, Joe? When
you was mustered out, you said you
was goin' home to be married"
Joe's face changed perceptibly.
II was expcctin' it," he said, slow
ly. ''but when got back found my
Alice was another man wife. She'd
got word that was dead, and her
folks-they live in the valley just
below here-had persuaded her into
marryin' man who was going out
West TO settle. He'd bought big
prairie farm, l believe, and was worth
some money. I'd only time to see her
once, and we neither of us said much.
There wasn't no Use In it. You see.
And didn't reproach her none for
what She d done. She WASH t to blame.
She was always easy led. was Alice.
Just before l SAID goodbye. told her
I'd wait for her. for knew we wern't
goin' to be parted forever. I'm waitin'
yet
"You haven't seen her sinceP'
Joe shook his head.
mo; she hasn't been home. She's
been out there eleven years. now. and
she's got six children-so / heard.
Her folks live near here, as l said, an
l bought this place on that account;
but l don't see nothin' of 'em. 1 ex-
pect they feel kinder mean yet bout
the way they tormented poor Alice in
to marryin' that man.
Your waitin' won be of no use,
joe" said Gideon; you'll never see
her again"
Joe rose. and walking to the door,
stood there moment looking out.
Then he came back to his friend
again.
Something tells me that l OiW see
her again. Gideon" he said. '.lt's
that that gives me strength to wait for
her. l know she'll come. Mine
warn't no boys love, you see. was
constable over thirty when we was
promised to each other. I'd never
cared bout no one before that; and
never have since. l mean to wait.
and shell IL come some day; Ikmow it. p"
The two men sc tiled down very cas-
lily to life together. Joe enjoyed hay
ing companion to whom he could
talk freely. and the friends spent long
hours in recalling to each Others men,
DRY incidents of the war. and rcmin-
iscences of bivouac and battles, camp
fire and weary march. They had
borne muskets side by side for four
long years. and the friendship formed
then had never waned.
Gideon found plenty of work to do,
and he frequently spent days at time
in the employ of Alice's father, old
MI. Harlan, who sent for him when
ever extra help about the farm work
was needed.
Gideon never returned from the Har-
Ian farm without having some thing
to tell Joe of Alice. whose name he
contrived to introduce into his cor
versation with Mrs. Harlan, who was
always ready to talk on the subject of
Her aDSeHC uauSnCer.
She amt happy out there. joe"
said old Gideon, one night. Her
husband drinks. Her mother heard it
quite by accident"
There was no need to explain to Joe
who was meant by "she." He under
stood. at once, that his friend referred
to Alice.
Iwish she'd come back" said Joe.
But she'll think it her duty to stick
by him. no matter what he does.
Alice always had tender heart, poor
girl"
Year after year went by. joss
sixiicth birthday had passed. 1t was
nearly twenty years since he and
Gideon had been mustered out in
North Carolina; nearly twenty-five
since the day Alice Harlan had prom
ised to be his wife. But he was faith
full still. He still insisted that he
would see her before he died.
The terrible exposure and privation
they had endured during the fouryears
they had spent in the defense of their
country's flag, had had their natural
effect on both the old comrades. and
they had become deaf, and were Grip
pied with rheumatism. And Joe suf-
fered from some peculiar trouble Of
the heart, which the doctor he COLI
suited could not relieve.
"Bu: I'll live to see my Alice again."
the old man said. hopefully. 'Ishan't
die till I've looked once more in her
sweet fair fana daar chilli toll